Open the HomeGroup troubleshooter: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-HomeGroup-troubleshooter Why can’t I access some of the computers in my homegroup? http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-cant-I-access-some-of-the-computers-in-my-homegroup Why can't I access my homegroup? http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-cant-I-access-my-homegroup Why can't I join a homegroup? http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-can-t-I-join-a-homegroup Why can't I create a homegroup? http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Why-cant-I-create-a-homegroup
On a small HomeGroup (or network) it is usually easier to reset up the HomeGroup (or network) than to try to troubleshoot. Create a HomeGroup: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Create-a-homegroup HomeGroup from start to finish: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/homegroup-from-start-to-finish HomeGroup: frequently asked questions (also shows how to remove and delete homegroup) http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/HomeGroup-frequently-asked-questions File sharing essentials: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/File-sharing-essentials Share files with someone: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Share-files-with-someone Windows 7 HomeGroup: Frequently Asked Questions: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee449408(WS.10).aspx
Setting up a home network: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Setting-up-a-home-network Setting up a wireless network: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Setting-up-a-wireless-network Home Network, Wireless Network and Computer Networking Made Easy: http://www.home-network-help.com/ Windows Vista Tip: How To Setup And Connect To A Wireless Network: http://www.watchingthenet.com/windows-vista-tip-how-to-setup-and-connect-to-a-wireless-network.html Home networking tutorial: http://www.tehnomagazin.com/Computer/Home-networking-tutorial.htm Practically Networked - all you could possibly want to know: http://www.practicallynetworked.com/
Control Panel - Network - write down the make and model of Wifi - double-click it - Driver's tab - write down the version - click Update Driver (might not do anything). Then Right-click Wifi Device and UNINSTALL - Reboot - This will refresh the driver stack. Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm Installing and updating drivers in Windows 7 (updating drivers manually using the methods below is preferred to ensure the latest drivers from System maker and Device makers are found) http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43216-installing-updating-drivers-7-a.html Download - SAVE - Go to where you put it - Right-click - RUN AS ADMIN. You can download several at once. However, reboot after you install each one. After looking at the System Maker's you can check Device Maker's for even newer versions. (The ones from System maker become your fallbacks). Repeat above for your network card (NIC), and this is a good time to get other updated drivers.
Windows 7 homegroup is based on IPv6. Check the IPv6 status on your network adapter.
1. Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel. 2. Move to Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections. 3. Right-click the network adapter icon, and then click Properities. 4. Check whether IPv6 is enabled.
If IPv6 is enabled and this problem still occurs, try the following method.
1. Start the following services:
Peer Networking Grouping PNRP Machine Name Publication Service
To start these services, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, Collapse this image, Expand this image, type Services.msc in the Search programs and files box, and then press ENTER. b. Right-click Peer Networking Grouping, and then click Properties. c. On the General tab, check whether the service is started. If the service is not started, click Start. d. In the Startup type list, select Automatic. e. Click OK. f. Repeat steps 1b through 1e to start PNRP Machine Name Publication Service.
2. Modify a registry key entry to enable IPv6. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, Collapse this image, Expand this image, type regedit in the Search programs and files box, and then press ENTER. b. Locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\TCPIP6\Parameters c. Double-click the DisabledComponents registry entry, and then type 0 in the Value data box. Note: If the DisabledComponents registry entry is not present, you must create it. To do this, point to New on the Edit menu, click DWORD Value, type DisabledComponents, and then press ENTER. d. Exit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.
Ed Price - MSFT edited Revision 11. Comment: Link issue
Ed Price - MSFT edited Revision 10. Comment: Featuring the article on the Home Page of TechNet Wiki